Another ethics bombshell just hit New York: the arrest of Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, but it points tyo a much bigger problem The problem is pandering and race/sex-based hiring for the sake of image.
The charges against Benjamin stem from an alleged misuse of his public office to financially benefit a big campaign contributor. Of course, Benjamin deserves to have his side heard, but the indictment is fresh evidence that ethics oversight and hiring for the sake of virtue-signalling is a failure.
According to the federal indictment, Benjamin used his role as then-state senator to obtain a grant for an individual who donated to his Senate campaign and became a significant donor to Benjamin’s failed bid for New York City comptroller. In other words, he secured taxpayer money in direct exchange for someone funneling him campaign cash, including public matching funds.
The courts will sort this all out, but misuse of public office for personal (or political) gain is a story that has been told too often in all forms of government. The former New York Senate majority leader went to prison for misuse of his office; the now deceased former Assembly speaker did too.
The larger question is why does this keep happening? The answer is that politicians in general simply do not take qualifications seriously enough.
Look at Biden's most recent SCOTUS pick. Is she really as qualified as the job demands? Probably not, but she did fit Biden's qualification criteria - she's a black woman.
That's all he gave a fuck about.
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The Affirmative Action pick for the job seems to always be a bad choice.
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